Coastal management

Question 1

define hard engineering

Answer 1

using artificial structures to control natural processes

Question 2

define soft engineering

Answer 2

involves methods that work with natural processes

Question 3

define managed retreat

Answer 3

controlled retreat of the coast by allowing the sea to flood low-lying land

Question 4

give 4 examples of hard engineering at coasts

Answer 4

sea walls
groynes
rock armour
gabions

Question 5

give 2 advantages of sea walls

Answer 5

effective at stopping sea

often creates walkway

Question 6

give 2 disadvantages of sea walls

Answer 6

obtrusive and unnatural

very expensive - £5 000 - 10 000/meter

Question 7

give 2 advantages of groynes

Answer 7

wider beach - tourism

not too expensive - £150 000 each

Question 8

give 2 disadvantages of groynes

Answer 8

interrupts longshore drift - increased erosion elsewhere

unnatural and unattractive

Question 9

give 2 advantages of rock armour

Answer 9

relatively cheap - £200 000/100m

easy to maintain

Question 10

give 2 disadvantages of rock armour

Answer 10

doesn’t fit local geology

expensive to transport rock

Question 11

give 2 advantages of gabions

Answer 11

improves cliff drainage

eventually merges into landscape

Question 12

give 2 disadvantages of gabions

Answer 12

cages rust within 5-10 years

initially unattractive

Question 13

give 3 types of soft engineering

Answer 13

beach nourishment
dune regeneration
dune fencing

Question 14

give 2 advantages of beach nourishment

Answer 14

bigger beach - tourism

blends in

Question 15

give a disadvantage of beach nourishment

Answer 15

needs constant maintenance

Question 16

give 2 advantages of dune regeneration

Answer 16

natural environment - wildlife

relatively cheap - £200 - £2000/100m

Question 17

give 2 disadvantages of dune regeneration

Answer 17

time consuming

damaged by storms

Question 18

give 2 advantages of dune fencing

Answer 18

little impact on natural systems

protects other ecosystems

Question 19

give 2 disadvantages of dune fencing

Answer 19

regular maintenance

can by unsightly

Question 20

Medmerry managed retreat scheme will:

Answer 20

create large natural saltmarsh
protect surrounding farmland from farming
establish a wildlife habitat

Question 21

give 3 issues at Lyme Regis

Answer 21

unstable cliffs
sea walls breached many times
powerful waves - rapid erosion

Question 22

give 4 key features of the Lyme Regis scheme

Answer 22

new sea walls
cliffs stabilised
extension of rock armour
creation of wide sand and shingle beach

Question 23

how has coastal management at Lyme Regis been successful?

Answer 23

increased visitors - benefits businesses
harbour better protected
defences have withstood stormy winter

Question 24

how has coastal management at Lyme Regis NOT been successful?

Answer 24

increased visitors - traffic congestion and litter

sea wall interferes with natural processes - problems elsewhere